The Portland daily press., 1887-01-17
SUNNI Err RESORTS.
Something About a FIourishing
Maine Business.

New York Post
In accordance with an act passed by the
Maine Legislature few years ago. the Sec
rotary of State makes an annual report npon
the industries of the commonwealth. The re-
port for the year 1886 has just appeared from
the pen Of Oramandal Smith, and it contains
much interesting and valuable information
regarding agriculture, manufacturing. and
the other departments which are commonly
included in the term industries. But the vol
ume possesses one novel feature in the fact
that its compiler has made rather startling
addition to the old list. The last chapter is
entitled Summer Resorts" and it opens
with the statement that "our summer resorts
have come to be among our leading indus
tries" This is, so far as we are aware, the
first recognition of this business by any Off
cial statistician, and as such it would chal-
lenge attention were the matter Of the chap
ter less interesting than it is.
Mr.. Smith begins by reciting the natural
advantages of Maine as a summer resort,
which consists in its geographical position,
in high northern latitude, and consequent
ly cool climate during the hot season; its
extended line of sea-coast, which, following
Ine sinuosltles OF bays, coyes and inlets, is
no less than 2,4S6 miles the broad belt of
forest along the northern border, where the
choicest game Is found in great variety and
abundance; its great lakes. numerous rivers
and streams. with their stocks of salmon
and trout, its grand mountain scenery, "sur-
passing IN this respect any other of the At
lantle States, as Mr.. Smith does not hesi-
tate to say even with his eye upon the White
Hills Of New Hampshire; and its pure. brac-
ing ana lnvigorating air, where malaria is
unknown and where the severer forms Of
contagious and infectious disease arc never
met with, except as the result of sanitary
neglect"
Inc report proceeds to describe in some
detail the more important resorts In the coast.
lake and mountain districts, and thus pre-
sents an Impressive viewof the dimensions
OF the industry under discussions The islands
along the coast are the summer abodes of a
great population. Leaving out of account
the well known Mount Desert. there are the
Islands OF Casco Bay. where large numbers
OF Portland people spend their summers in
eneiI own cottages, while hundreds of visit
ors dweli IN hotels, one of these islands be-
Eg visited every year by large numbers of
canadians; Squirrel, Mouse and CAPITOL
isianus, OIL Boothbay, each of which has its
motel and its cottages; and smaller islands
al along the coast, which have their colonies
a aua the not whether; In the hill country
are Such places as Fryeburg, just across
tne New Hampshire border from Conway.
where the business of keeping summer
poarders has become an important indus
sryi Bethel Hill and Mayvifle, on opposite
Danhs OF the Androscoggin, whittier "nearly
w persons from cities outside of the State
come and spend couple of months each
summer, and Paris Hill, which is said to
pc the highest village in the State, and has
Two hotels and several private boarding
houses. Inc four Rangeley lakes are sup
piles steamers, and ''at various places around
are capacious hotels, which are well patron
izea during the hunting and fishing season.
Wnile Mo0sehead Lake has one hotel with a
capacity OF 600 guests, and a number OF
s snarier ones There are many other lakes
unknQWn Dy name outside their immediate
Ineighborhoods which have been discovered
py people from distance, who regularly
VISIT them every summer, and there is a host
OF small resorts in various parts of shelState
winch MI. Smith does not attempt even to
1t is to be regretted that the Legislature
dld not provide a sufficient fund to Justify
the Secretary of State in incurrino The az
pense when would have been requisite to
secure a close estimate of the amount of
money sa,ts received at the different summer re-
81, from persons residing out of the State.
lnat " must reach very large proportions is
evluenI when one considers that fhe vilIaoao
q Bethel Hill and Mayville take $1,000 from
sneir 2oo city visitors, and that "about Sc. 600
s srT aerd IN another quiet and in
year, by rest and pleasure seekers who make
sneir homes here during the summer" ME-.
smith does not attempt to fix any exact fg-
ures, OF even round sum" as the total in
come q, Of Maine people from this source s'but
that 1t reaches millions of dollars, he saws
mo one viii doubt, and that it promises to
become and hold its place as one of our lead
ing industries Is equally certain" He makes
some further remarks In the way of summa-
ry which are worth quoting:
u should be born in mind that our well patron
lzed summer resorts benefit us in various WAYS:
almost everyone is helped thereby. They give
einpioyment 70 our railways and steamboats,; thew
az also give employment TO large number Of our
ers, walters, and common laborers; and they SIM
Ply nome market for the products Of the farm
S hrn Garden and they annually are the means OF
millions OF dollars into the State and mr.
lug y lnlo circulation here The business of con
uuc.ing THESE resorts has become one of our lead
4 in and 10 its far reaching benefits it
=, surpassed only by agriculture and man
uactures It IS rich mine and should he an
c cou. and worked Our summer re-
dusy They the FARM arge 9.n apd in
home market for his products: thew s shsnrsef
ia a amount OF Lumber, and give employment to
a great many mechanics and common iahorars.
they increase the consumption of ice and of avary1
commodity produced in the State; and thew MAKE
dividends possible by our various lines 81 ran.
way The amount Of money brought into the the
state through their means has become n neeassi
" IN many places and great financial embarrass-
i'eas "ouiu icsaie from us sudden suspension.
This remarkable development of the sum-
mer resort business in Maine. which had
scarcely begun to exist a quarter of a centu-
ry ago, Is most impressive illustration of
the manifestations of our modern civilization.
IL is also striking evidence of the wide dis
sripution OF accumulated capital under pres
ent conditions. Doubtless among the peo-
Pc VINO ind employment from this indus
Wy every summer are not few who indulge
IN Ine conventional TRADES against wealth.
ana yet they are the very ones who would
s !, most keenly from that great and f.